Tough Mudder adds new obstacles for 2015 season

Tough Mudder has announced new obstacles and challenges for the upcoming season, including the April event at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond.

Additions include a 10-mile course littered with world-class obstacles designed to test both physical and mental strength. Also, the courses will include new obstacles including "King of the Swingers," a pendulum swing off a 12-foot platform; "Dead Ringer," a transverse across a series of inclined pegs using hand-held rings; and "Cry Baby," a tunnel crawl through a tear-gas-like substance.

The events will also include redesigned obstacles including the Ice water plunge "Arctic Enema" and slicked quarter pipe "Everest."

An improved Mudder Village, open to participants and spectators, will include the "Ring of Fire," a 20-foot drop through fire into a vat of water; "Fire in Your Hole," a steep water slide through flames; and "Human Hamster Wheel," a test of strength on a revolving set of monkey bars.

"The obstacle innovations we've made for 2015 will encourage participants to work together more than ever before, while still providing the personal challenge people have come to expect from Tough Mudder," said Nolan Kombol, Head of Innovation at Tough Mudder. "We're thrilled to provide a fresh experience for returning Mudders and 20 new reasons for first-timers to finally take the plunge."

More than 90% of participants are expected to register as part of a team; to encourage teamwork and camaraderie over competition, the events remain untimed.

New discounts are available for teams of five who sign up for an event together, as well as corporate event packages for companies and larger organizations. Also, Tough Mudder will provide the opportunity for teams to raise more money for charity than ever before.

In addition to 50-plus Tough Mudder events around the globe in 2015, the company plans to add other events:

•Urban Mudder, Tough Mudder's "cousin in the city," will bring a 5-6 mile course close to home for city dwellers, featuring brand new obstacles (that do not include mud, electricity or swimming) and a blown-out festival experience. Registration will open next month for the debut event in New York City on July 25.

•Mudderella, the female-focused event series begun in 2013, will more than double in size, with more than 14 events to be held in 2015.

•World's Toughest Mudder, the capstone of each season, is the only competitive Tough Mudder event, crowning the man, woman, and team champions who log the most laps of an obstacle-heavy five-mile course over 24 hours. The event will return to Lake Las Vegas this fall with a redesigned course and host of top-secret exclusive obstacles.

"It's clear that there's an incredible demand for what Tough Mudder offers – a fun, team-oriented challenge that tests both physical and mental strength," said Alex Patterson, VP of Brand. "Yet fitness is not one-size-fits-all, and we constantly hear from people looking for different types of challenges. We continue to develop new events to meet their demand."

For more information on the 2015 Tough Mudder season, visit http://www.toughmudder.com. To join the conversation, follow Tough Mudder on Facebook at facebook.com/toughmudder, on Twitter @ToughMudder, and on Instagram @Tough_Mudder.